A/N This chapter is for the lovely Johnsarmylady, Dragonaunt and several others of Mrs. Hudson's Kitchen forum who challenged me to write a feminist story involving Sherlock. After much thought I decided to work the challenge into The Sorcerer's Apprentice, as it was leaning that way already. Enjoy!
Chapter Ten - Change
Molly was exhausted and discouraged. She made her way down the narrow passageway to her room. Closing the door quietly, she crossed the small space to the narrow bed. On top of the beautiful embroidered duvet were the lovely combs and sparkling hairpins Willow had used to work Molly's original upswept hairdo. Molly carefully picked up the elaborate comb that formed a tiara when positioned on the head. She stroked the bauble gently, remembering Willow's gay laughter and silly stories as the woman had worked arranging Molly's hair. Willow, who thought only of parties, fun and making men happy. Willow who had seven babes and wanted more. Willow, so alive, so joyous. She was gone forever.
Tears streaked down Molly's face and plopped heavily onto the jeweled hair ornament in her hands. Fifteen women had been lost tonight, as well as seven men. Molly was saddened by their deaths and captures, but only Willow had been known to her. Her thoughts and emotions centered on Willow and it was for Willow she mourned.
There was a quiet knock at the door and Twiggy entered.
"Oh Lady Molly! Please do not cry. It distresses me to see you weep so." Twiggy sat on the bed beside Molly and put a comforting arm about her.
Molly put her head down on Twiggy's shoulder and continued to sob.
"I couldn't save her. I tried, but she was gone."
Twiggy hugged Molly closer and patted her back gently.
"I know you tried, Lady Molly. But it was too late. The infection works almost instantaneously. If it helps, she did not suffer long. It is the price we must pay for living so close to goblin territory.
"Why?" Molly asked tearfully. "Why do they raid the pixies for women?"
Twiggy sighed. "Long ago, there were no goblins. Only pixies, elves and faeries. Then something happened to some of the pixie men. It was a new disease and it changed them completely. They grew antisocial, refused help and became increasingly aggressive. They moved away and would not associate with non-infected pixies. Over time there were physical changes. Their bodies became twisted and heavily muscled. The skin turned green, fingers became claw-like and they became incapable of speech other than a few grunts and growls. Their women changed also. Worst of all were the fangs which the goblin men used to infect pixie women and change them. Then, it developed that only male children were being born. It became necessary for the goblins to raid other uninfected groups for women. Without the raids, the goblins would have died off. It became the way they learned to survive." Twiggy sat quietly, staring sadly off into space.
The two women sat together for some time. Twiggy silently comforting the distraught Molly. After a while, as Molly's tears slowed and her sobs became less frequent, Twiggy began to talk of the wonders to be found in the forest outside Lilligrotto. She spoke of the beautiful waterfall that cascaded over the worn rocks at the end of the valley, of the tall leafy trees which provided homes for the squirrels and other gentle creatures that inhabited the forest. She talked about the wonders of spring and the joys of summer.
"It is not all bad, Lady Molly. There are many things that make us happy and we are truly blessed. We try to think on those things when sadness comes, it makes it more bearable. Willow would not want you to grieve. Her life was filled with love and laughter. She would want you to remember her that way."
"Do you think you will ever find a cure for the venom of the bites?" Molly asked quietly.
"Oh, my dear, that is why I came to you." Twiggy sat up and looked at Molly. "I bring a message from Lord Sherlock. He has been asked to stay on for a short time and assist Elder Eldrin in the search for a solution. Lord Sherlock asked me to ask if you would agree to stay a while longer with us in order to accomplish this.?" Twiggy looked hopefully at Molly.
"Of course we will stay." Molly agreed. She wondered to herself if Sherlock would have left if she had wanted to go. It wasn't important, Molly decided. She wanted to stay, especially if it meant perhaps some progress in finding a cure for the horrible disease.
"Thank you Lady Molly!" Twiggy gave her a quick hug and stood up. I must hurry back and deliver your answer. She turned to leave then suddenly looked back to Molly.
"Lady Molly, a group of the women are beginning arms training tomorrow. We would be delighted if you would consider accompanying us?"
"I would like that," Molly smiled. The two friends hugged and Twiggy left to deliver her message. Molly crawled beneath the covers and stared at the ceiling. So much had happened tonight; the feast, followed by the strange party, the wondrous kiss, then the terrible way Sherlock had rejected her, the goblin battle that followed, the loss of good men and women. Molly mulled over these things and did not expect to sleep. After a while however, she drifted off and slept dreamlessly until the morning.
ɸ
"Watch your opponent carefully. Mirror her movements." Molly said as she circled two women working with quarterstaffs. The knocking and clicking of sticks were somewhat deafening as she watched the large group of women paired off and practicing.
"Elbow up, Shareth! Guard your face! Good, good, now you have it." She shouted. In the two weeks or so of practice, there had been much accomplished. Molly looked across the space to where the Master at Arms was standing. Master Abrim grinned and gave her a thumbs up. It wouldn't be long before the women would be good enough to spar with the more experienced men. She continued to walk about the pairs of battling women assigned her, giving encouragement or correcting mistakes. Abrim was grateful that she was willing to assist him in their training. They concentrated on basic defense and limited the assault techniques to attacking the face and upper body. Of special concern were the goblin's fangs as that is where the deadly venom was located. If you were a woman attacking a goblin, it was best to remove the chance of getting bitten as quickly as possible.
After each session, the women gathered about Molly, spending a few minutes each day to chat about anything from hand to hand combat to the latest perfume Mistress Lilie had concocted. It was a great bonding time and Molly encouraged the women to share their thoughts. For the first time, they began to talk of mothers, sisters or cousins that had been captured. Molly thought it was a good thing. It was long past the time for them to deal with the subject. She was proud of their progress. The women were slowly learning to take care of themselves. Molly's girls stood taller, held themselves with a new grace, and walked with a determination that showed their new confidence.
ɸ
Molly didn't see much of Sherlock. He was avoiding her. She most often saw him in conversation with the Queen or Eldrin. Somehow, she knew they were talking about her. Molly wasn't too troubled, as she felt the elders were on her side. She began to notice Sherlock nodding his head during the talks. Slowly his suspicious attitude and frowns became fewer. Whatever was being said, it calmed him. Molly still did not understand what had happened to make him so upset.
Eldrin and Sherlock worked tirelessly day and night. Finally, one day a message came from Eldrin asking Molly to come to the special room set aside for the experiments. Molly was a little uneasy as she entered the small cavern. She hoped Sherlock was in a good mood.
She was amazed by what she found. In the center of the room were several long tables covered with stone pots and glass bottles of various elixirs and liquids. To one side was a fire place with a working vented chimney for the smoke to escape. On the other side, a small waterfall trickled water into a cistern which overflowed and disappeared into a gravel-filled catch basin underneath.
The room was very organized and efficient. Molly nodded her approval of the variety of herbs hanging in a special drying section near the fireplace. She knew most of the herbs and what medicinal properties they contained. It was very well stocked.
"I see you approve of our workroom," Eldrin smiled. "Come Molly, we want to show you what we have been able to do so far. Perhaps, you will think of something that we have not tried."
Molly cast a quick glance at Sherlock. He was stirring a small cauldron hanging over the fire. He did not look at Molly as she walked over and stood beside Eldrin. It was clear to Molly that Eldrin was the only one who wanted her there.
"Sherlock is finishing an elixir of Mallow-wart, Elesieum, and Hawthorne bark," Eldrin commented. Molly nodded. It was a combination of herbs she was familiar with. Mallow-wart and Elesieum formed a non-toxic base for many of the medicines she made.
"The use of hawthorn bark is a little unusual," she said. "Is it used as a preservative, or as an astringent ?" Molly asked with interest.
"Both." Sherlock said staring at her. "Once this elixir is finished, we will add Bay Berry, Monk's Star and Hemlock"
Molly frowned. "I am not familiar with Monk's Star, and Hemlock is poisonous. How do you plan to detoxify it?"
"That's what the Monk's Star is for." Sherlock grunted. 'It binds the toxins, yet allows the healing properties of the Hemlock to seep through. All we need now is an ingredient to speed up the absorption of the medicine. Something that is fast enough to allow the serum to kill the venom before it takes hold of the body."
Sherlock carefully removed the kettle from the fire an sat it on an iron trivet placed on the worktable.
"Come and see." He said abruptly. He pointed to a small table in a corner of the room. "Look, but be careful not to touch anything." He was no longer avoiding her, but his actions plainly indicated that he was not comfortable around her.
Molly gave a small sigh and walked to the table. There was a curious apparatus made of a glass lens with brass fittings standing on the table. Under the lens was a small glass bowl of liquid. Beneath the bowl as series of mirror reflected the light of a nearby candle so that it illuminated the contents of the glass container. Sherlock adjusted the height of the lens over the bowl by turning several of the brass knobs. When he was satisfied, he stepped back and allowed Molly to peer down through the lens into the mysterious liquid.
Molly gasped. Just looking at the liquid she could not see anything in particular. But when she gazed through the special lens, the liquid came alive with small swimming objects.
"What are they?" Molly asked excitedly.
"You are looking at a sample of the venom." Sherlock answered. It appears to have small creatures inside."
Molly gazed in wonder. How could anything too small to see with your eyes be alive and living in a sample of venom?
"This is truly a marvelous machine!" she exclaimed staring at the lens apparatus. "Is it magic?" she whispered, looking at Eldrin.
"You'll have to ask Sherlock my dear. He is the one who made this very handy tool."
Molly looked up at Sherlock who appeared somewhat stoic. "I just adapted something I've seen Sooran use in his workshop. It was not that difficult to make." he replied.
Molly noted to herself that he did not answer her question about magic.
"It's effects are wondrous." Molly told him.
"Watch this!" Eldrin said with excitement. He crowded in beside Molly which caused her to bump into Sherlock. Sherlock jumped back as if Molly's touch had burned him. He glared down at the herbalist as if she had touched him on purpose. Molly stared back at him in bewilderment.
"Children, children! Pay heed!" the mage said in admonishment. He held a cooled sample of he liquid from the fire. He poured a small amount into the bowl under the lens and Molly watched as the creatures or whatever they were became still. In a matter of seconds, all of the small objects were lifeless.
Molly looked at Eldrin, broad grin spreading across her face. "You found a cure!"
"Not I," Eldrin said merrily. Sherlock was the one who discovered this with his lens machine.
Sherlock ignored Eldrin's praise and pointed at the bowl. "I'm afraid this is not the cure we seek." he said.
"But the creatures are dead." Molly protested. "All that needs to be done it to give infected women the elixir."
"Don't forget about how quickly the women change." Sherlock reminded her. "No, this is not a cure. If the result is that the mind and soul are still gone what have we accomplished? But it is a start, and a great discovery."
"What we need is a way to protect the women before they are bitten," Eldrin said quietly.
Molly stared at the small bowl. She couldn't help but think that it was the solution to their problem somehow. The orgasms were dead, but could they still be used somehow?
"In the village where I lived, several of the women became allergic to Severbane, the main ingredient in the making of soap. I was able to give them small amounts of the herb, and over time they built up a resistance to the allergy and were able to use the soap made from it like everyone else. I don't suggest giving our women small amounts of live venom, after all we don't know its strength or how little it would take to cause the change, but perhaps the dead venom could be useful."
She eyed the bowl. " I don't think drinking the liquid will work. The stomach humors will destroy it before the body could absorb it." Molly tapped the table in front of the bowl thoughtfully. "If we only had a way to put it directly into the body without going through the stomach. . ."
"Oh!" Sherlock interrupted excitedly. " Molly, you are clever! Master Sooran once told me he had been to a land where the people scraped the scabs off pox victims, reduced it to a fine powder and blew it into the nostrils of healthy people using a hollow reed. He claimed that the people who received this treatment did not get the pox during the next epidemic. We can dry the dead venom and do the same!"
Sherlock laughed, jumped up and down and clapped his hands together. Molly stared. For the first time since the party, he was treating her as a friend instead of an enemy. He was such an odd man.
In no time Sherlock and Eldrin had their heads together discussing the best way to go about creating a powder. Molly shook her head and decided to make herself useful by cleaning the used utensils. Filling an empty pot with water from the cistern, she hung it over the fire to heat. The men, lost in their discussion, ignored her movements about the small room.
ɸ
All the hustle and bustle brought change to Lilligrotto. The women walked about with a spring in their steps and there was an air of expectation and excitement that could almost be seen. Not everyone accepted that the changes were good. Many of the men were heard to grumble amongst themselves that the women were becoming too aggressive.
"They strut about the cave as if they are men!" Acrum was heard to growl. "Next thing we know, they will be wanting to go out in the forest hunting and fishing on their own! It's downright unfeminine!"
"The other night, Twiggy refused to couple with me! " grumbled the rotund pixie who had been Twiggy's partner at the Spin the turtle game. "I couldn't believe it! She had the gall to tell me I smelled bad and that she wasn't in the mood!" He shook his head in a bewildered manner as several of his friends commiserated with him.
Pylar cleared his throat and said in a most scandalized voice. "I heard that the women presented a petition to the Queen and Elder Eldrin. It was a list of demands for equal say with men in how the rules and decisions are made! Think of it. Women having a say in how rules are made! Why everything will fall to pieces in no time!" All the men shook their heads at the thought of such a ridiculous idea.
"My woman informed me that there is talk about starting a new colony of just women. She told me that they didn't need us with our crude manners and dirty feet mucking up their chambers any more!" whispered a scandalized man named Willin. "What are we going to do about all this? If we don't stop all this nonsense now, soon all Lilligrotto will be in an uproar!" The men huddled together, there was much wagging of heads and scowls deep enough freeze a troll into stone.
Things came to a head at supper several nights later. At first everything was quiet and everyone was talking in pleasant tones, then suddenly a serving girl poured a pitcher of mushroom wine over the head of a very surprised Pylar.
"If you try to pinch my bottom again, you troll, I will bash this pitcher over your head!" shouted the angry woman. Pylar stared up at her dazed. Wine dripped slowly off the end of his nose.
"But Edrith, what is the matter? I have pinched your bottom many times and always received a giggle and a wink from you. What is your problem? Have you decided you no longer fancy me?" Pylar whined in confusion.
"I want you to like ME, you dolt!. Not just my body! If I pinched your bottom in front of your friends just now, how would it make you feel?" Edrith planted her hands on her hips and glared at him in the time honored manner of a woman who is totally fed up with a man. She began muttering something about what was good for the hen was also good for the cock. Then she made a move as if to follow up on her comment.
Pylar stood up and scowled down at the advancing Edrith. In the room, several women shouted encouragement while most of the men stared like they couldn't believe what was going on.
"Edrith, you wouldn't dare!" Pylar shouted angrily as he backed away from Edrith, making sure to face her..
"Why not?" Edrith's voice had changed to a sultry tone. "After all, my dear, you are just a man. You should be pleased. You should know your place by now. You my dear, are here to provide a service to women. You don't think you are important do you? You are just a means for women to endure the boredom of a long evening! I know you won't mind a kiss and a tickle and perhaps a pinch or two." Edrith stalked closer. Molly could see her waggling her eyebrows as she backed poor Pylar against the wall behind his table.
Edrith leaned in and began kissing the alarmed Pylar. As the kiss became more intense, Pylar began to relax and enjoy the situation. His arms came around Edrith's body and his fingers curled into her hair. The men began shouting encouragement to him and making comments on how well he was kissing. Suddenly, in the middle the arduous snog, Edrith's arm shot out and up into the air. Waving her hand about in an exaggerated motion, finger and thumb clasping together, she made a pinching motion in the air with her fingers. Then her arm disappeared behind Pylar's back. Pylar gave a squeal worthy of the most innocent maiden who was unexpectedly goosed. Edrith stood back, turned to the room and bowed to the enormous enjoyment of all of the women and even some of the men. Plyar stood there, transfixed. The man didn't know what to do.
The room was in an uproar. Women were squealing and laughing. Men were growling and obviously quite outraged. Molly was stunned. Part of her wanted to laugh, but another part was horrified at how the evening was turning out. She wouldn't be surprised if it ended in an all out brawl. The tempo increased and the room nearly burst with activity. All sorts of objects were being thrown about, most of them aimed at the unfortunate men. Molly ducked as a golden plate sliced the air over her head and felled a man standing behind her. The poor fellow was out cold. Molly pursed her lips. The way the plate had soared across the room was impressive. With a sharpened edge, it would make a formidable weapon to attack the Bous-riding goblins. She made a note to speak with Master Abrim about it in the morning. Now was not the time to daydream, the room was becoming increasingly dangerous. Several pairs of pixie men and women were actually rolling about the floor in their irate distress.
From the corner of her eye, Molly caught movement as Sherlock of Holmes sat down in his empty space at the table. He hadn't eaten at the evening meal in several days. He had picked a poor time to expect sustenance now. Most of the food was flying through the air or was plastered on the bodies of the pixies. Molly looked up and caught his gaze as a pudding sailed down the table and smacked her forehead. She quickly wiped the offending goop away with a napkin as she heard a guffaw coming from Sherlock's direction.
Molly glared in his direction. Insufferable man!
"See what you have caused Molly Hooper?" Sherlock smirked. "There's no telling where all this will end. It wouldn't surprise me if your women decide to make the men beg before they are allowed to touch or kiss them again."
"Why not? It's about time the women around her stood up for themselves!" Molly exclaimed. And I did not start all this." She leaned sharply to the left to avoid a bowl of lentil stew flying past. "Why do you blame me?"
Sherlock glanced sideways at her and spoke in his most sardonic voice. "Did you see any of this behavior when we first came? Who else has voiced opinions of how oppressed the women are? Who encouraged the women to think for themselves and to take responsibility for their own well being? This is all your doing Molly Hooper, as sure as the sun comes up every morning. You cannot deny that it has had quite an effect on the people here." Sherlock sat back, folded his long arms across his chest and looked at Molly.
"I suppose you think it should all go back to how it was," Molly snarled. "The women here were little more than objects to satisfy the men's sexual urges! It was disgusting! They were so cowed, they were slaves to the men's whims and didn't even realize it! Half of them thought their only purpose in life was to make the men happy and to have babies! I suppose you think that is the way it should be!" Molly placed her hands on her hips and glared at the tall man.
Sherlock just grinned. "Oh, don't include me in all this. I happen to agree with you. Mind you, I'm not opposed to sexual satisfaction now and then, but not the variety the women here were offering." He shook his head in disgust.
He paused for a time, then chose his next words carefully. "The women here definitely needed a push in the direction for independence. All that simpering and agreement was sickening. I found it demeaning and most unflattering."
Molly looked at him, at loss for words.
"Boring milk toast lasses are not to my taste, Molly Hooper," Sherlock said with a heavy eyed look that made her more than a little uncomfortable. "I like a little vinegar in my salad." Sherlock quirked up one side of his mouth and said in a deep low voice. "Give me woman with a little sass in her any day."
Molly stared. Was he flirting with her? Impossible! Molly sniffed. "Don't you dare try pretending you are on my side! You're a man aren't you? It doesn't bother you a bit to put the women down or to build them up!"
"That's the whole point. At least I'm honest. I treat them equally well or poorly as the circumstances warrant. I am what I am Molly Hooper." he said proudly. "You know you wouldn't like me if I were anything else."
"Who says I like you?" Molly growled. "You are egotistical, irritating, and quite insufferable!"
"Yes, and you like me that way." Sherlock flung back. "Just as I like your independence, quirky nature and the fact that you are slow to anger, but go off like a volcano when properly riled. You are most entertaining and I appreciate that in a woman."
"I'm not sure if I've been complimented or insulted."
Sherlock shrugged his shoulders and winked. He actually winked! "You decide. It makes no difference to me. I don't plan to change."
"That's for sure!" Molly agreed. "I can't imagine you anything but an obnoxious git."
They sat watching the brawl before them, occasionally leaning to one side or the other as various objects careened about. Sherlock actually managed to take a bite or two of food, in spite of having to dunk once or twice to avoid flying missiles. After a few minutes, Sherlock looked at Molly who was sitting with her arms folded in her lap.
"So, what do you think? Shall we call a truce? It will soon be time to leave Lilligrotto and I have no wish to travel with an antagonistic companion." .
Molly looked at him incredulously. "I am not the one who became angry, Sherlock. I don't even know what the fuss was about unless you were incensed about the quality of my kiss."
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with your kissing abilities," he assured her in a deep voice that rattled her toes. "Perhaps I over-reacted a little in regards to my anger. Pax? Do you think we could become friends again?"
It wasn't an apology, but it was close. Molly nodded. "Peace," she agreed, "but I don't think we were ever friends, colleagues perhaps or maybe comrades. As long as you permit me equal say in what we do, I'm agreeable."
Sherlock opened his mouth to comment, but was interrupted by the approach of Queen Irgraine.
"Ah! Sherlock and Molly. I see you have patched up your difficulties. Well done." The Queen smiled indulgently at them in the manner of a Mother who had two particularly bright children.
Irgraine turned to Molly. "Oh my dear what a change you have brought to Lilligrotto!" The Queen laughed and waved her arm about in the direction of the fray that was still battling on.
"I am so sorry. your Majesty. I did not mean to cause . . "
"I am not displeased child," the Queen assured her. "You have brought a breath of fresh air to our humble home. I haven't seen this much action in a long time! Look about you, even as we speak, things are beginning to settle down. I tell you, before this night is through there will be much coupling and dozens of new babes on the way!"
Indeed the ruckus was dying down and most of the pixies were going about arm in arm laughing about the silly things they had done.
"Pixies are rather temperamental," The Queen explained. "We are easy to upset and tend to flare into monumental rages, but we soon see the right of things and settle down. I think you will find that the women will have more say on what goes on from now on, but they will be quick to declare that their men have always supported them and encouraged them to become more independent. The men of course will congratulate themselves on a well planned strategy, and take all the credit for the improvements. It is the Pixie way."
Molly eyed Sherock. "I think that is true of all men, pixie or human," she murmured low enough so only the Queen could hear.
Sherlock wondered at the sound of the women laughing, then shook his head. Change was often good, but too much change too quickly could sometimes become upsetting.
FYI The powdering of pox scabs and blowing the dead cells up the nostrils was practiced by the early Chinese about the year 1000.